An actuator (10, 10′, 110) for a fluid-dispenser container, e.g., an aerosol container (14) or a non-aerosol pump container (114), has in one version (actuators 10 and 10′) a base (18) having a port (20) which receives fluid from the container (14) and dispenses the fluid via a shallow cavity (24, 24′). In another version of the actuator, the actuator (110) has a base (44) and a cover (46) which may be positioned either in a closed or open position relative to each other. In the closed position, fluid is transported through an extended conduit of actuator (110) provided by a base conduit (58) which is connected in fluid flow communication with a cover conduit (70) to discharge fluid through a cover orifice (66). When cover (46) is in the open position, fluid is dispensed via base conduit (58) through a shallow cavity (54) in the same manner as that of actuators (10, 10′).
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1. An actuator for a fluid-dispenser container having a dispensing valve which is manipulatable to dispense stored fluid from such container, the actuator comprising:
(a) a base having a port side and an opposite, deck side, a cavity formed in the deck side and connected in fluid flow communication via a base conduit to the port side, the base conduit being configured to be connected to such dispensing valve in fluid flow communication therewith, whereby manipulating the actuator to operate such dispensing valve dispenses stored fluid through the base conduit;
(b) a cover having a cover conduit which is dimensioned and configured to be connected to the base conduit by a nipple to effectuate fluid-tight connection of the cover conduit to the base conduit, the cover further having an interior side and an exterior surface, the cover being movable between (i) a closed position in which the interior side of the cover overlies the deck side of the base and connects the cover conduit in fluid flow communication to the base conduit, and (ii) an open position in which (I) the cover conduit is disconnected from the base conduit and isolated from fluid flow through the base conduit and into the cavity, and (II) the cover is displaced from the deck side of the base to expose the deck cavity and such fluid contained therein sufficiently to enable an operator to have access to such stored fluid in the cavity, the cavity being configured to retain liquid therein;
(c) the cover conduit further comprising a cover orifice which opens to the exterior of the actuator and wherein, when the cover is in the closed position,
(i) the nipple of the cover conduit is inserted into the base conduit to connect the cover conduit in fluid flow communication with the base conduit to thereby define an extended conduit comprised of the base conduit and the cover conduit connected to each other in a fluid-tight manner which prevents such fluid from flowing from the extended conduit into the cavity, and
(ii) manipulating the actuator to operate the dispensing valve dispenses such stored fluid via the extended conduit from the cover orifice to exteriorly of the actuator.
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This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/502,026 filed on Aug. 10, 2006 in the name of Jay Scott Tourigny and entitled “Device For Applying A Substance Disposed Within A Liquid Container To An Applicator”, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/708,436, filed on Aug. 16, 2005.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to actuators for dispenser containers, typically hand-sized containers, which are used for storing and dispensing fluids, and to dispenser containers having such actuators.
2. Description of Related Art
A standard aerosol container is typically a small metal container that contains a product to be dispensed, and a propellant to force the product through a valve and out of the container. Both the propellant and the product are kept inside the container by a valve assembly which is mounted on the container. The product is dispensed through an actuator (e.g., a button, spout or spray dome) that is mounted on the valve assembly and dispenses the contents as a stream or mist, usually in a direction sideways or at a slight angle to the longitudinal axis of the container when the container is seated on a horizontal surface in its normal upright position. Aerosol valve assemblies and actuators are available in a wide variety of configurations from a diverse variety of vendors.
Because the aerosol container is hermetically sealed when it is filled and pressurized, it offers an excellent means of storing, transporting and ultimately dispensing its contents without the risk of evaporation, spilling or spoilage. Aerosols are packaged in a controlled environment, so the product chemical formula typically remains consistent from container to container and production run to production run. Aerosol containers are not refillable, so it is impossible to contaminate or tamper with the container's contents, assuring product purity. Finally, aerosols are labeled when packaged so the contents are easy to identify and have appropriate use and warning statements.
The above-described physical attributes make aerosols a favored device for technicians and service people to use and dispense high purity fluids needed to clean, lubricate and/or otherwise service high technology items including (but not limited to) computers, electronic assemblies, optics, fiber optics, bearings, medical devices, etc.
Dispenser containers are also available as non-aerosol containers which do not contain a propellant and instead dispense the stored fluid by the user manually operating a pump in order to dispense the stored fluid through a valve surmounting the pump. A standard pump container is typically a small metal or plastic container that contains a product to be dispensed. Unlike an aerosol container, a pump-dispenser container is closed by a pump valve which is spring-loaded or otherwise constructed to permit the user to impose a repeated pumping action which dispenses the product from the container as a spray or mist. Pump-dispenser containers eliminate the need for a propellant and have the advantages that the cost of adding propellant to the container is avoided, as are environmental problems associated with certain propellants. Further, each stroke of a pump valve dispenses a precise, predetermined amount of fluid. This enables metered dose dispensing of fluids by giving the operator control of the amounts of fluid dispensed. In addition, the pump-dispenser container need not be made strong enough to resist the pressure of a propellant. A further significant advantage of a pump-dispenser container is that being unpressurized, it may be allowed (depending on the nature of the liquid it contains) to be legally transported as a non-hazardous and non-regulated material. In contrast, all aerosol containers are subject to regulations for transport because they are pressurized. On the other hand, pump-dispenser containers require on-going manual pumping and the fact that pump-dispenser containers usually may be refilled if desired carries the disadvantage that they lack the integrity of sealed aerosol containers. Such pump-dispenser containers are available in a wide variety of configurations from a number of different vendors.
Generally, the present invention provides an actuator which is mounted on the fluid-dispensing valve of an aerosol or pump-dispenser container in order to facilitate control of the direction of discharge of the stored fluid, e.g., a liquid. Aerosol containers typically dispense a propellant plus a liquid in the form of fine globules, i.e., an aerosol. Pump-dispenser containers typically dispense a liquid, although they may also be used to dispense gels, greases, creams, foams and the like. In one aspect of the invention, the actuator has a base defining a deck side in which is formed a shallow cavity. A base conduit extends through the base and terminates in a deck orifice through which the stored fluid is dispensed into or through the cavity. Another aspect of the invention generally provides that the actuator optionally has a cover within which is formed a cover conduit terminating in a cover orifice, the cover being movable between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the cover overlies the deck side and connects the base conduit in fluid flow communication with the cover conduit to provide an extended conduit through which the stored fluid is discharged. When in the open position the cover is out of the way and unimpeded discharge of fluid from the cover orifice occurs in the same manner as the actuator embodiment which does not have a cover. In some aspects of the invention, the valve of the container has a stem and is operated by depressing the stem. In other aspects, the valve has a stem cavity, and the actuator includes a stem disposed on its port side and sized to be received within the stem cavity, and a shallow cavity disposed on its deck side. Examples of sealed containers with which the actuator of the present invention may be used include aerosol containers and non-pressurized pump-type liquid-dispensing containers.
Specifically, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an actuator for a fluid-dispenser container, the container having a dispensing valve which is manipulatable to dispense stored fluid from the container. The actuator comprises the following components. A base which has a port side in which there is a valve port and an opposite, deck side which has a cavity in which there is a deck orifice, the deck orifice being connected in fluid flow communication with the valve port to define a base conduit. The valve port is configured to be connected to the dispensing valve in fluid flow communication therewith, so that manipulation of the actuator to operate the dispensing valve dispenses stored fluid through the base conduit and out the deck orifice into the shallow cavity.
Another aspect of the present invention provides that the deck side of the actuator is configured for manipulating by a user's finger or fingers while leaving the deck side sufficiently exposed during such manipulating that fluid dispensed from the actuator is accessible to the user during such manipulating.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the actuator further comprises a cover having an interior side and an exterior surface, the cover being movable between a closed position in which the interior side of the cover overlies the deck side of the base, and an open position in which the cover is displaced from the deck side of the base to expose the deck orifice to enable dispensing stored fluid therefrom. The cover has a cover orifice in its exterior surface and a cover port in its interior side, the cover orifice and the cover port being connected in fluid flow communication with each other to define a cover conduit. The cover port is configured to be connected in fluid flow communication with the deck orifice when the cover is in the closed position to thereby connect the cover conduit in fluid flow communication with the base conduit to define an extended conduit. In this way, manipulation of the actuator to operate the dispensing valve dispenses stored fluid from the cover orifice via the extended conduit when the cover is in the closed position.
In one aspect of the present invention, such dispensing valve is one which has a valve stem, and the valve port of the actuator is configured to receive therein such valve stem.
In another aspect of the present invention, such dispensing valve is one which has a valve seat in lieu of a valve stem, and wherein the actuator further comprises a valve stem carried on the port side of the base of the actuator and configured to be seated within such valve seat. In a related aspect of the invention, the valve stem is carried in the valve port of the actuator.
Other aspects of the present invention provide one or more of the following features, alone or in combinations of any two or more: the cover port may comprise a nipple which is configured to be inserted into the deck orifice in fluid-tight relationship therewith when the cover is in the closed position; the deck orifice may have a longitudinal axis and the cover conduit may have a first leg which is disposed coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the deck orifice when the cover is in the closed position, and a second leg which is disposed transversely of the first leg and terminates in the cover orifice; and the cover may be connected to the body by a hinge about which the cover pivots relative to the body between the closed position and the open position.
Any actuator of the present invention may be mounted on a fluid-dispensing container having stored fluid therein. In a related aspect of the invention, the deck orifice has a longitudinal axis and the dispensing valve is operated by depressing the stem in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the deck orifice.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in light of the detailed description of the invention provided below and the accompanying drawings. The apparatus described below constitutes a preferred embodiment of the underlying invention and does not, therefore, constitute all aspects of the invention that will or may become apparent by one of skill in the art after consideration of the invention disclosed overall herein.
Referring to
Referring to
The shallow cavity 24 of actuator 10 (
In all these embodiments, the shallow cavity 24 or 24′ advantageously: 1) helps the operator easily dispense the contents of the aerosol container 14 onto the surface of the applicator without having to hold the aerosol container 14; 2) helps to prevent liquid from spilling out of the actuator 10 or 10′ during application, and helps to prevent spillage of any residual liquid that may be present in the actuator 10 or 10′; 3) helps to locate and prevent the operator's finger from slipping off the actuator 10 or 10′ during actuation of the container's valve 12; 4) facilitates distribution of the liquid throughout the applicator; and 5) facilitates distribution of liquid from the container into an applicator.
The port 20 is configured and dimensioned so it is easily mounted on the stem 16 of a standard aerosol valve 12 (e.g., by press fit as shown in
The actuator 10 or 10′ (shown in
The actuator 10 or 10′ is also sized so that it may fit under any standard, aerosol protective overcap 38 (
In use, actuator 10, as shown in
It will be noted that deck side 26 of actuators 10 (FIG. 1A) and 10′ (
Cover 46 has an interior side 62I (
As illustrated in
With the actuator 110 in the closed position in which cover 46 overlies deck side 50K and cover port 68 is firmly inserted into deck orifice 56 to provide a fluid-tight connection, actuator 110 may be functioned in a manner identical to that of actuator 10 of
Although the valves 12 described above have stems 16, in alternate embodiments the valves 12 may have stem seats, i.e., a cavity or space configured to receive a stem, in place of a stem. In these embodiments, the actuator 10 may include a stem disposed on the bottom side of the base 18 of actuator 10 or the base 44 of actuator 110, which stem is sized to fit within the stem cavity of the valve 12. This type of actuator is illustrated in
While the invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that the invention may take forms other than those comprising the illustrated and described specific embodiments.
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